Frame for use in bodies of trailers, semitrailers, and trucks



Jan, 17, 1939. J. M SHANE 2,143,955

FRAME FOR USE IN BODIES OF TRAILERS, SEMITRAILERS, AND TRUCKS FiledMarch 9, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN BY- I z n A TTORNEY.

Jam. 17, 1939. J. M SHANE FRAME FOR USE IN BODIES OF TRAILERS,SEMITRAILERS, AND TRUCKS Filed March 9', 1958 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J,MCSHANE 2,143,955

SEMITRAILERS, AND TRUCKS Jan. 17, 1939.

FRAME FOR USE IN BODIES OF TRAILERS,

5 Sheets-Shed a Filed March 9, 1958 wz m Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITEDSTATES ATENT cries FRAME FOR USE IN BODIES F TRAILERS, SEMITBAILERS, ANDTRUCKS 3 Claims.

The invention relates to the improvement in the body frame, in whichsteel-wire fabric is used in conjunction with equalizer-supports, and abase frame; and the objects of the invention are;

first, to provide a steel frame whose parts are welded together to forma unitary structure; second, to afford a frame that cushions and absorbsthe road-shocks and weaves; third, to relieve the joints of the strainput upon them through continual racking and twisting; and fourth, toprovide a more efficient frame with a maximum strength required, at aminimum weight.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the 15 accompanying drawingswherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame; Fig. 2 is afragmentary side view on an enlarged scale of one of the side panels ofthe frame; Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; Figs. 4and 5 20 are respectively longitudinal and transverse sectional views ofa portion of the arched panel member forming the top and ends of theframe; Figs. 6 and '7 are elevational and vertical sectional views,respectively, showing the manner in which 5 certain of the upper framemembers are secured to the base frame; Fig. 8 is a View showing themanner in which the sides are connected to the base frame; Fig. 9 is afragmentary view showing the manner in which the side, end and base por-30 tions of the frame are connected together; and Figs. 10 and 11 arefragmentary face and vertical sectional views, respectively, of one ofthe sides, showing the manner in which a door frame is built into thestructure.

35 The wire fabric comprises a welded structure having longitudinalwires 2 to which are welded transverse stay wires I. Three sheets ofmesh are provided, one sheet A being bowed to arch form and the sidesheets 3 and C welded to the 40 edges of the sheet A as hereinafterdescribed. The sheet A serves as top and end walls for the trailer body.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 9, the strand wires 2 of the sides B and Cand the stay wires I 45 of the top sheet, are welded to corner wires orrods 5, at each side of the body, the wires 5 each extending from end toend of the body, along the arcuate line of juncture between the top andthe side sheets. In each sheet of fabric the longi- 50 tudinal wires 2may be spaced apart about four inches and the stay wires I two inchesapart. In order to reduce the rigidity of the structure so that it mayweave and flex somewhat during traveling conditions, the mesh sheet Ahas its 55 closely spaced stay wires I extending in generally horizontaldirections, so that the top and end portions of the body may flexsomewhat in vertical directions. In the case of the sides, where greatervertical rigidity is desired, the closely spaced stay members I extendvertically. 5

In order to prevent excessive strain upon the welded connections of themesh sheets, with the corner wires 5, and to reduce danger of such weldsbreaking through weaving movements of the mesh sheet A; at each corner Iweld a stiffening 10 wire to the stay wires i, as shown most clearly inFig. 9. I also show a similarly arranged stiffening wire 25 welded tothe side sheets, at each corner of the body, although theselatter-mentioned stiffening wires are not so important. 15

stiffening strips '5 of spring steel are welded at various points to thesheet A interiorly thereof and extend from end to end of the body. Thesestiffening members are of sufficient flexibility to bend somewhat underWeaving motions of the body, but are of sufficient strength to assist insupporting the top of the vehicle and to prevent sagging thereof,besides spreading or equalizing the stresses imparted to the sheet A.

Cover plates 6 of thin metal are provided over the wires 3, t and 5 atthe corners of the body and serve as a joint shield to protect againstwear by the corners of the canvas coverings or the like that will beapplied to the body.

Angle members 8 are provided on the side B of the body, such membersbeing welded to one another and to the mesh B, a door frame and a windowframe being formed by said angle members, as shown more clearly inFig. 1. The mesh is cut away at the door opening and a cloth flap or adoor of more permanent nature can be employed.

At the window opening I2, the wire mesh can be cut away or not, asdesired, and such opening can be simply covered by a canvas flap or havewindow glass inserted therein. Similarly, angle irons 9 are Welded tothe mesh sheet C, and are shown as forming a large rectangular opening53 for a window. The angles 8 and 9, of course, also serve to giverigidity to the side walls of the structure.

The upper body members heretofore described are carried by arectangularlyarranged base frame IE) of angle irons, the lowermost edgesof the sheets A, B and C being welded thereto, as shown most clearly onFigs. 6 to 11 of the drawings, the protective strips 5 and thestiffening strips I being also welded to the base frame It]. The sheet Ais deflected inwardly at its ends, as shown in Fig. 7, so that itslowermost wires I I are disposed inwardly of the strips I, to permit thestrips to be welded directly to the frame It. 55

Suitable flooring boards are provided on the base frame and suitablewater-proof cloth or canvas covering provided for the mesh elements. Thebase frame It also serves as a chassis frame to which axles and theirwheels may be connected.

I claim as my invention:

1. A frame for a vehicle body, comprising a base, a flexible wire meshsheet of arch form secured at its ends to the ends of the base, sideportions of Wire mesh secured at their upper edges to the longitudinaledges of the said mesh sheet, and secured at their lower edges to thebase, and a spring-metal stiffening strip welded to the firstnamed meshand extending from end to end thereof, intermediate the longitudinaledges of the first-named mesh and in position to yieldably reinforce thefirst-named mesh sheet along a line adjacent to its longitudinal centerline.

2. A frame for a vehicle body, comprising a base, a flexible wire meshsheet of arch form secured at its ends to the ends of the base, sideportions of wire mesh welded at their upper edges to the longitudinaledges of the said mesh sheet and secured at their lower edges to thebase, a spring-metal stifiening strip welded to the firstnamed mesh andextending from end to end thereof, intermediate the longitudinal edgesof the first-named mesh, in position to yieldably reinforce thefirst-named mesh sheet along a line adjacent to its longitudinal centerline, and reinforcing wires Welded to the first-named mesh sheet alonglines adjacent to the lines along which the said side portions arewelded thereto.

3. A frame for a vehicle body, comprising a base, a flexible wire meshsheet of arch form secured at its ends to the ends of the base, sideportions of wire mesh secured at their upper edges to the longitudinaledges of the said mesh sheet and at their lower edges to the base, and aplurality of spring-metal stiffening strips welded to the first-namedmesh and the ends of the base and extending from end to end of the mesh,along lines intermediate the longitudinal edges of the first-narned meshand in position to yieldably reinforce the first-named mesh sheet.

JACK McSI-IANE.

